EDI Software

EDI. It’s all about standardization, right? That’s true, it is. EDI is a mature technology that’s delivered major efficiencies to tens of thousands of enterprises through standardization of business document exchange. But, while the core advantages of EDI relate to standardization, there is an amazing variety of offerings in terms of EDI software and services. Whether you are new to EDI or a long-term user, this article will help you better understand your choices, so you can select the EDI system best-suited to deliver a strategic advantage to your business.

Find out why thousands of businesses trust Software Connect to help narrow down thousands of options to a managable list of top recommendations. There’s no pressure, no obligation, and no cost. Sound good? Let’s get started!

“The companies and representatives you sent our way were prompt and thorough… I definitely would recommend your company as a means to exploring options with qualified providers.”— Bruce Conley

“Your service saved me some very valuable time and hooked me up with some excellent resources. Thanks for providing this top-notch service.”— Linda Vittori

“Thanks! Having a service like this to help navigate the ocean of accounting software and help identify potential good-fits without having to delve through numerous bad-fits is of tremendous value!”— Mark Carpenter

Unlocking growth potential with EDI

Change can be difficult. As your business expands, so too does the need to communicate efficiently with trading partners. For a small business, mailing, faxing, or even emailing paper-based documents is the standard. As transaction volumes increase though, these manual processes become an obstacle to efficiency and growth. Manually passing orders and other documents to trading partners is time-intensive. It’s also error prone. Another drawback is the introduction of delivery delays and slower payment. These limitations can even apply to businesses already using EDI, without proper optimization. A well planned and implemented EDI (electronic data interchange) system offers a solution.

Efficient operations and other EDI benefits

An EDI-based approach to business communication will reduce operating costs and improve revenue potential. Because EDI uses standardized message formats, it requires less processing time. It also promotes accuracy, limiting costly errors. On a per order/transaction basis, EDI is simply a less expensive, much more lightweight approach. There is a tangible, calculable cost to every order or business document you process. EDI cuts these costs to a fraction of what they are with more manual processes.

Businesses using EDI solutions report a number of business gains beyond more timely and cost effective order processing. Electronic data exchange is nearly instantaneous. Cutting the slack out of the standard order flow means customers receive deliveries sooner. Quicker delivery yields improved customer satisfaction and retention. EDI also offers cash-flow advantages stemming from quicker payment. EDI processing of orders increases the number of data points in the supply chain and their visibility. With transparency and better supply chain management, your company can reduce inventory on hand. Reduced inventory can be a major source of cost savings. Carrying less inventory allows your business to improve the use of warehouse space and avoid stock shortages.

Opening the marketplace with EDI

More and more, EDI means access. Many suppliers, and some very lucrative customers, demand their trading partners utilize EDI. For instance, if you want to do business with Walmart, you’ll need to communicate with EDI. Because EDI is such an effective way to cut costs, suppliers who require EDI communication are often the ones offering the most favorable pricing. Beyond simply helping you lower operating costs, EDI can help you tap new markets and form beneficial business partnerships.

Getting to the bottom of EDI

EDI is built-on a simple concept. By standardizing document message formats, it’s easier and quicker to process documents than it would be if each document was in a unique format. The fact that it is an “electronic” standard introduces the expediency of communicating digitally.

The most common documents standardized by EDI include invoices and purchase orders. But, there is a huge variety of documents standardized by EDI. Advanced shipping notices, bills of materials, payment confirmations are but a few examples.

The document recipient translates the EDI document back into a readable business document and processes it.

Given the number of steps in the EDI document flow, it’s not surprising that there are providers who focus on each step. There are also end-to-end solutions providers. In fact, some ERP systems include EDI as an integrated module that is part of the underlying system.

The first step of the EDI document flow is converting a business document into an EDI file. Many software solutions on the market provide EDI translation. An important consideration when reviewing EDI translation software is compatibility with your accounting/ERP software. Interoperability is the key concern when evaluating EDI translation offerings.

EDI VAN providers handle the delivery of the EDI document. The VAN provider will map the document to the recipient’s standards, provide testing services, and ensure proper file delivery.

One of the most important considerations when purchasing an EDI solution is the breadth of the service. Whether you are looking for translation software, a VAN provider to partner with, or a full ERP solution which incorporates EDI capabilities, there are a large number of options available to your company to consider. If you are looking to uncover the ones that are appropriate for your business, consider utilizing our free software search service.

Adam Bluemner is a Managing Editor at Software Connect.
He and his colleagues have been
helping businesses like yours
find top EDI software options
since 1996.

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Popular EDI Software Products

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searching for EDI software.
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“The companies and representatives you sent our way were prompt and thorough… I definitely would recommend your company as a means to exploring options with qualified providers.”— Bruce Conley

“Your service saved me some very valuable time and hooked me up with some excellent resources. Thanks for providing this top-notch service.”— Linda Vittori

“Thanks! Having a service like this to help navigate the ocean of accounting software and help identify potential good-fits without having to delve through numerous bad-fits is of tremendous value!”— Mark Carpenter

EDI Link provides a link between your EDI data and your accounting system. This system will automatically generate both sales orders from the received purchase orders. At which point EDI Link converts your invoice into an electronic document for...

TrueCommerce EDI platform is uniquely designed to make it simple and easy to implement EDI, and even easier to afford. That's why only TrueCommerce can provide all of the following benefits:
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DiCentral's Base2 provides fast, efficient communication for your shipping, purchasing, and planning needs. It is the culmination of years of EDI experience. Our software is highly reliable and was one of the first EDI packages to be approved by...

BSI EDI gives you support for a rich gamut of document/EDI formats.
cXML Format (Ariba) - Exchange Transactions via this Popular Portal
XML Format - You can exchange orders and other transactions with many sources or destinations --...

B2BGateway is a fully managed and very inexpensive EDI solution. B2BGateway connects directly to your customers, picks up the orders and converts them into a format that can be imported into your system, with no input required by you.
The same...

SPS Commerce Cloud EDI is designed and built exclusively to connect SAP Business One to the SPS Universal Network - connecting you to over 55,000 retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, 3PLs and more. The integrated EDI solution, powered by zedSuite,...

vSync EDI provides the ability to send and receive a variety of EDI documents within Dynamics GP, resulting in trading partner compliance and dramatic increases in accuracy and speed of the order-to-cash process. This software was developed...

Vantage Point is a complete EDI and XML processing platform that enables users to achieve EDI intgration. Vantage Point is compliant with virtually any trading partner and has all EDI components integrated into one solution.
Perform...

OpenText TrustedLink™ is an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled B2B translator that provides you with everything you need for EDI integration. TrustedLink™ is available in three different versions to support a wide variety of operating systems and...

Credit Card Encryption (CCE) features advanced 128-bit encryption for all credit card information stored in the Microsoft Dynamics GP database including the customer card. All credit card numbers are masked down to the last 4 digits, meeting the...

The eBridge EDI Integration Solution automatically moves and integrates critical business data between an organization's EDI system and its back-end accounting application, eliminating manual and duplicate data entry and allowing for the accurate...

The RedTail Transaction manager will provide you with a comprehensive electronic data interchange (EDI) solution. This hosted service will allow you to receive and review electronic purchase orders. The system will then send POs to your accounting...

MAPADOC is a fully integrated electronic data interchange (EDI) solution that allows Sage 100 ERP users a feature-rich product that is easy to use.
Top 10 Features
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In 1992, Seradex became the first company to release a 100% Microsoft based ERP software package. Seradex software is designed from the ground up to use industry standard development tools and to integrate with industry standard...

Fax2EDI gives you just that a fax-to-EDI capability; thus providing you with a cost-effective way to trade electronically with your business partners, with just a fax machine. This allows you to trade with the large pool of smaller business who do...

The AFS ERP system is designed and optimized for CPG, Food and Beverage Distribution and light process Manufacturing. In addition to offering the fully-integrated ERP solutions, AFS offers a number of modules that can be integrated with existing...

Inovis EDI – Thinking about Electronic Data Interchange? Well, we have a solution for you. Whether you need to implement a solution for 1 trading partner or 50, we have the right tools for you. Inovis EDI will allow you to interchange...

Service Pro, MSI Data's flagship field service software, provides an easy to acquire and easy to deploy solution for managing all aspects of enterprise wide service management, including call center, dispatch, contracts management and spare parts...

Dekker TRAKKER™ is the ABC/ABM software solution that provides companies with the ability to track accounting information and orients it into a full-up ABC accounting discipline. Actuals are tracked against models to see if goals and...

NAV-X for Distribution is a comprehensive collection of tightly integrated business functionality specifically designed for companies that distribute their products to other businesses or through the retail channel. NAV-X empowers distributors to...

Trading Partner is an EDI translation software that allows small business to receive, translate and manually create and send EDI transactions from a number of trading partners.
EMANIO has recently launched a new Version 7 of Trading Partner, with...

SI Foodware Fruits and Vegetables is a fresh produce specific software package based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Consignment management is the heart of this solution. For all processes within the supply chain, from import, logistics, manufacturing up...

Our electronic data interchange software seamlessly integrates these transactions with your current business software. This helps to eliminate re-keying errors and increases data accuracy, which in turn makes your business run more efficiently....

The EXTOL EDI Integrator for i (EEI) is a high-performance, native System i software application for integrating external partner transactions with internal applications and data. EEI is used by companies in the supply chain to process...

Ormed X is a secure B2B Internet portal that allows your buyers to come together with your merchants in real time. This product interacts with other Ormed and third-party software to eliminate data re-entry and errors. ORMED X allows you to...

The apogee enterprise solution is a truly integrated cross-industry world class ma-nagement software. Designed with a modular concept, each application software fulfills a specialized role in the support of the clients mission. Organized...

MAPADOC EDI has the flexibility to integrate with many different translator software solutions including Qualedi™ for Windows.
Since 1983, Qualedi™ has built its reputation in the EDI industry, based on it's innovative software development and...

*J-Forms Web EDI is the complete, user-friendly Internet based EDI solution with no EDI experience required.*
J-Forms allows a buyer to quickly and efficiently bring their suppliers to EDI compliance. As a Web-based, hosted solution, j-Forms...

If you are looking for a way to electronically communicate information, but you aren't a large volume supplier, Kewill EasyTrade is the solution for you. This product is a robust EDI solution that eliminates the difficulties associated with...

There’s no easier way to enjoy EDI than with Athena, Liaison’s
low-cost web EDI solution. With no software to install and the
gentlest of learning curves, you’ll be exchanging EDI documents
with your trading partners in a matter of hours – in an...

The ultimate EDI editor, EDI Notepad Professional provides the
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editing your EDI transactions.
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world, and supporting ANSI...

*Achieve higher productivity with a lower investment in IT resources*
1EDISource becomes your EDI department and manages your entire EDI operation. This turnkey program is fully managed by our team of EDI experts that integrate with your business...

Acctivate is a powerful, easy-to-use, and affordable inventory and business management software designed for growing small to mid-sized distributors, wholesalers, and online retailers using QuickBooks®. Acctivate offers a wealth of features and...

Fax2XML allows you to expand your trading network by giving you a cost-effective way to trade with your fax-ready business partners. If you are not currently XML-Capable (as many small businesses aren't), this solution will give you the resources...

EDI Integrator includes software components for e-business communications, though all leading Internet standards for secure EDI transmissions. The components facilitate the integration of secure and reliable messaging and provide significant cost...

PRONTO-Xi is Pronto Software's flagship ERP product. PRONTO-Xi offers flexible, scalable performance and a strong base from which to achieve an accelerated return on investment. It is a solution designed specially for small to medium organizations....

## EDI Services Perfect for Small Companies. EDI as easy as email.
CovalentWorks provides EDI services for small companies that need to do business with their large-company customers. With the MyB2B small business EDI solution, your company can...

EDI Engine™ was developed after many years of experience implementing EDI solutions in the field. It was carefully designed with the specific purposes of making EDI easy with a full featured and scalable engine. The software is versatile enough to...

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the next generation of intelligent business applications in the cloud.
Dynamics 365 unifies CRM and ERP capabilities by delivering new purpose-built applications to help manage specific business functions, including...

The base EDI product handles all the translation necessary for transmitting X.12 and EDIFACT transaction sets to and from trading partners. We offer EDI software for more than 150 different trading partners. Each are priced individually, so that...

bcEDI is built on nearly two decades of experience in the EDI solution
space. It has been built specifically to make the EDI process in Microsoft
Dynamics™ NAV easy to manage and cost efficient to deploy.
bcEDI utilizes the latest technology and...

EDI-PAC/2000 is an EDI integration and document management product for Adagio Accounting. It has simple to use menu functions to operate EDI communication, translation, importing and exporting between you and your trading partners. There is a...

Your EDI Software Recommendations

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EDI software needs. With a bit more information about your
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d

What kind of system are you looking for?

Just EDI

EDI, and another module or two

EDI as part of a complete accounting/ERP system

What functionality do you require? (check all that apply)

Document translation capabilities

EDI VAN access and delivery services

Access to EDI mapping tools

Integration with back-end accounting software

Purchase order document translation

AP document translation

AR document translation

Shipping & receiving translation

Advanced reporting capabilities

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